Eucharistic Miracle of
MORROVALLE
ITALY, 1560
In 1560 at Morrovalle,
a huge fire destroyed the
church of the Franciscans but
spared a large Host contained
in a pyx (which was also
completely burned except
for the lid). The Eucharistic
miracle’s fourth centenary
was celebrated in 1960,
and the City Council
unanimously decided to
Church of Saint Bartholomew
place at Morrovalle’s main Reliquary of the Miracle
gate the inscription,
“Civitas Eucaristica”
(Eucharistic City). Convent annexed to the Church of Saint Francis,
where the Miracle took place
I
Morrovalle procession in honor of the miracle
The Bull “Holy Roman
Church,” of Pope Pius IV
(1560) confirming the miracle
n Morrovalle, at about two o’clock in the Sacrament was exposed for public adoration. celebrations, the church was later expanded.
morning of April 17, 1560, during the When Franciscan provincial Father Evangelista Today, the feasts are celebrated with exposition of
octave of Easter, Brother Angelo Blasi da Morro d’Alba finally arrived, the miraculous the Blessed Sacrament and of the pyx on the
awoke with a start at the sound of violent crack- Host was placed in an ivory case. main altar. The pardons, namely the plenary
The then-bishop of Bertinoro,
ling. Looking out the window of his cell, he saw indulgences, are available at the church of Saint
the church was completely engulfed in flames, Bartholomew. The miraculous Host was conserved
and he immediately ran to notify the other Ludovico di Forli, was immediately sent by intact until 1600 but due to the vicissitudes of
brothers. The fire was brought under control Pope Pius IV to Morrovalle to investigate the history every trace of it was later lost. All that
after seven hours, and in following days began the authenticity of the event. As soon as he received remains today is the glass ciborium and the pyx
work of clearing the massive pile of church ruins. the bishop’s account, Pope Pius IV judged the lid which survived the flames.
On April 27, Father Battista da Ascoli was occurrence to be without natural cause, and he
removing a piece of marble from what used to be authorized public devotion with the Bull “Holy
the main altar and discovered the pyx in a wall Roman Church” (1560). The bull proclaims the
cavity. Its corporal was scorched but the consecrated anniversaries of the fire and the discovery of the
Host was still intact and in good condition. sacred Host (April 17 and 27) as feasts with
Father Battista shouted at the sight of the miracle, plenary indulgences (so that they were known
and many people immediately ran to marvel at locally as the feasts “of the two pardons.”)
the occurrence. For three entire days, the Blessed Because of the many faithful who came to the
© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / The Real Presence Association, Inc.
